UPA SCORE REPORTER


Girls' Division Writeups


DAY TWO

By: Melissa Foxworth

I wanted 70 and sunny; you wanted 70 and sunny. Yet, a reality’s big fat foot came and kicked us all in the face at 6AM Sunday morning when it was 45 degrees and raining. Those fortunate enough to be playing in the tournament seemed much less disturbed by the conditions than those of us relegated to the sidelines. Many spectators, parents and volunteers bemoaned this morning’s weather, but games started on time and all across the field was crazy eye: half raw intensity… half ponytail. It’s a very strange look. Especially under ominous skies. At 8:30 in the morning.

And, thus, the tone is set.

Thanks to the egregious amount of water falling which accrued this weekend, the decision was made to cancel all consolation games in the tournament in an attempt to preserve fields. Several teams would be playing just one game on Sunday and retiring from Easterns 2008.

POOL PLAY

A lot of zone was played today from all teams, from 1-3-3 to 3-person cup to the 4-person cup to the ever-illusive I-can’t-find-my-girl-after-the-transition-so-I’ll-poach-the-lane-1-person cup. Some teams tried hammers, some teams tried hucks.

For a first-time Easterns team, HUG (Hampton High School), which didn’t catch my eye much on Saturday and went 1-5 on the weekend, they’ve got a few of the key elements that suggest we’ll hear more from them next season. #4 Anna Rakers (Jr.) seemed as though she could have ran circles around any girl out there this year and then there was #77 Sarah Krzewinski (Soph.) at 5’10” bringing down stray discs from the heavens like plastic manna. Unfortunately the team just doesn’t have the experience and depth to keep up with the rest of the pack yet. They lost to Amherst JV (15-2).

The University School of Nashville had no problem blowing through LC Bird (10-0), with Nora Hoover (#4) and Margie Quinn (#1) putting up and pulling down anything necessary to get ready for their semis game.

Yorktown/HB Woodlawn beat Memorial handily (14-3), while Columbia took Cardinal O’Hara (9-5). though the game was played closer than the score indicates. Andover beat the JV team of the school that would knock them out of semis later in the day; Stuyvesant made the best of their last game at Easterns, beating Cardinal O’Hara (7-4).

SEMIFINALS

Paideia v University School of Nashville

With only three subs, University School of Nashville starts the game at a disadvantage. Surrounding the field on every side are Paideia jerseys. 4-1 Paideia and USN calls a time-out after a sweet Callahan goal. When the time-out ends, Paideia pulls and each team causes a few turns. USN managed to score the Callahan because they ran a hardworking 4-person cup, containing Paideia's handlers effectively, causing the much-needed turnovers in the redzone. Eventually, during Paideia possession, the disc is back into the hands of Sophie Darch (#10--threw three of the first four Paideia goals). She whips the disc into the endzone for a goal. It is possible that this disc momentarily soared amongst the braids of Nora Hoover (USN #4)—she had a 3ft vertical on a full-extension lay-out bid on the disc. If those braids had just been a little longer, who knows what would have happened.

The wind was swirly on and off, and mixed with the wet conditions, aided both teams in getting possession of the disc. Paideia was just a lot more successful with their chances. Despite the efforts of players like USN's Miriam Miller (#28), who laid-out from the dump position for a big yardage loss (but retained possession) several times for poor dump passes, USN just couldn't consistently work the disc. Paideia takes half 7-1 when Julia Fuster (#11) bid and scooped up a disc flying a little too low to the ground.

The second half starts a lot like the first, with zone defenses and big grabs on shaky throws. Paideia takes it to 9-1; USN answers to 9-3.

At 11-3, the game is delayed a little over an hour for lightning. Fatigue set in for the USN players and when the game resumes (in cap), Paideia ends it quickly and walks into finals with a (13-3) win. Sophie Darch (#10) has a sick game, throwing or receiving in most of the Paideia goals, with at least a handful of Ds to her name as well.

Amherst v Andover

Andover pulls to start the game. Amherst works it a bit and pulls out the strong arm and hucks it. Turnover. Amherst sets a tight 3-person cup with man coverage downfield and contains the disc in the hands of the Andover handlers, pushing them back bit by bit until a solid swing pass can be completed. Keri Lambert (Amherst #16) gets a handblock and Annie Fisher (#89) picks up the disc and puts a beautiful flick to Claudia Tajima (#2). 1-0 Amherst.

Amherst keeps the pressure on with their zone causing many turnovers, but Andover works hard on offense. Vicki Chang (Andover #28) shows that her team can go deep as well with a big forehand for a score to receiver Kayla Walsh (#17). Amherst takes the lead and keeps it: half is 7-4.

Andover can smell finals cooking and wants to be a part and comes out of half-time amped up to perform. Rachael Westgate (Andover #26) lets loose a big huck which is run down by Rebecca Ginsburg (#98) just shy of the endzone. Ginsburg looks left… looks right… head fakes a downfield defender… and then it was nice and easy to Hannah Hastings (#65) for the score. A couple of points trade to 9-6 Amherst when the game is postponed for lightning.

A little over an hour later, the game restarts (in cap). Both teams came out a little cold it seemed, but Amherst got it together and advanced to finals, winning 11-6.

FINALS

Paideia v Amherst

Rain between semis and finals moistened up the fields as the girls warmed up. Both teams play zone to relieve the wear and tear on their bodies.

Paideia goes up 3-1 with plays like smooth, smooth crossfield forehands from Sophie Darch (#10) to Rachel Kessler (#9). Paideia keeps their pulls strong in the unpredictable wind and forces Amherst to make smart decisions with the disc. Paideia's zone causes plenty of turns, but in general Amherst is working the disc most of the way down the field. Paideia handlers struggled a bit through the beginning of the game with Amherst's intense 4-person cup, but at 5-3 Paideia they bring back a fourth handler and spread the field. Alicia Kramer (Paideia #24) makes a sweet lay-out grab for much-needed yards against the zone. Paideia gets the disc to all-star Darch (#10) who puts up another amazing forehand to Lane Siedor (#32) for the score.

After erupting into a spontaneous dance party, Paideia takes half 8-4.

Second half shows no sign of slowing down. The harder Amherst tries to forge a comeback, the more sick bids come out of Darch (#10) and Alisha Kramer (#24). According to my notes from the game: “sickest lay-outs ever.”

At 9-4, Amherst finds a window and Fisher (#89) puts up a huck to Zoe Elkin (#7). Just shy of the endzone, Amherst sets up an offense... and turns it over. Both teams suffer a few more turns, but eventually Amherst's Afra Danai (#1) finds Elkin (#7) in the endzone. Amherst pulls, Paideia works it down and turns it over. Capitalizing, Tajima (Amherst #2) puts up a big huck to Silin Garfield (#4) who waits patiently for Fisher (#89) to get open. Easy score. 9-6 Paideia.

Paideia refocuses and gets the score up to 11-6 before Amherst rattles off two more points. The cap goes on at 11-8 and Darch (Paideia #10) turns all business. She sends one of the prettiest high school flick hucks ever seen downfield to Hailey Alm (#2) for the score. Paideia keeps control for the rest of the game and takes home the championship (13-8).

DAY ONE

by: Melissa Foxworth

The day started dreary, cold, and rainy but Ultimate endured and 12 determined girls' teams stepped out unto Turner Valley for 2008 HS Easterns.

Your 4-0 teams:

Other than Amherst's close win over the University School of Nashville
(14-12), both they and Paideia held true to the traditions that have made them the powerhouse programs they always have been. Other than the University School of Nashville who tasted the sweet, sweet flavor of what it might be like to topple a giant, no one scored more than six points on either Paideia or ARHS on Saturday. You are hearing it here first that we might have ourselves one heckuva of a semifinal on our hands for tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Your 3-1 teams:

Andover proved they are to be reckoned with by rolling through three teams (and putting up that big 'ol six-er against Paideia). They took Memorial and Yorktown/HB Woodlawn each (15-2) and Hampton (15-4)... pretty impressive scores. The University School of Nashville, on top of the nail-biter against Amherst, had closer games all day, beating Cardinal O'Hara (12-8) and Stuyvesant (10-7).

Your 2-2 teams:

Most teams favored zone defenses early for the first few rounds when things were particularly moist, encouraging the next generation of "Sickest Throwers Ever" to shine. Lefties Natasha Mishchenko (#10 Stuyvesant) and Laura Burt (#22 Yorktown/HB Woodlawn) each lead their teams to a pair of victories in the murky conditions respectively: (9-5) LC Bird, (12-4) Columbia and (12-7) Amherst JV, (12-7) Hampton.

Rounding out the competition:

Teams like Hampton and and Memorial used scrappy catches with unsure footing to keep offenses together when field conditions went from splashy to muddy. They faced off in what I believe will now be known as "The Game of Sick Second Chances." Half-Ds were being twice caught and almost-got-its became just a layout away. Hampton rallied to win against the Madison team in cap, 9-7.

The conditions also played to the talents of lay-out machines Molly Schulman (#3 Amherst JV) and Kelsey Johnson (#28 Memorial). Though the numbers suggest Amherst beat Memorial easily at (15-4), it was an amazing show by both squads. Memorial's Johnson boasted 6 Ds for the game and Schulman either threw or caught seven of her team's fifteen points.

LC Bird finished out in the middle of the pack, losing to Stuyvesant and Columbia Sparkle Motion, the team which when I saw them had a traveling sideline of 20 over-Gatoraded boys deep at (9-7). They did manage a win – beating Cardinal O'Hara (11-6) after a close first half.

By mid day the weather had cleared up and worked quickly to cake the mud to the calves and clothes of the tired (yet exceptionally giggly) girls of the Easterns field this year. Kielbasa and pierogies were served for dinner alongside a University of Pittsburgh/Ohio State Showcase Game, and merriment was made. The weatherman says showers tomorrow, but my fingers are crossed for 70 and sunny. More pool games in the morning, then on to Championship Semis and Finals.